Change-speed gearing



Manch 14, 1950 Filed May 6, 1948 BY/'TeE-o giggle-'e MM L@ A TTOR/VKSPatented Mar. 14, 1950 .2.500.447 CHANGE-SPEED GEARING Fred Bitzer,Cleveland, Ohio, assigner to Eaton Manufacturing Company, Cleveland,Ohio, a

corporation of @hic Application May c, 194s, sel-iai No. 25,370

(c1. fri-rs1) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to power transmitting gearing and moreparticularly to an electromagnetically controlled change speed gearing.

Broadly the invention comprehends the provision of a power transmittingspeed change gearing comprising a simple planetary gearing system havingelectromagnetic control means therefor providing for different ratios ofdrive therethrough.

An object of the invention is the provision of a simple and economicallyconstructed speed change device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a change speedgearing for effective electromagnetically actuated control meanstherefor.

Another object of theVr invention is the provision of a change' speeddevice comprising a planetary gear set arranged intermediate andcoupling the input and output members thereof having quick responsiveelectromagnetically actuated shift means associated therewith forcontrolling the ratio drivev of the device.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a planetary gearsystem change speed device having a simple electromagnetically actuatedcontrol means therefor.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision of a simplecompact and lubricant enclosed change speed gearing mechanism.

other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thevfollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, forming apart of the specification, and in' which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical, cross-sectional view of a A change speed device;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along lines 2`2 ofFig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken substantially along lines 3-'-3of Fig. 1.

The present invention is directed at the provision of a change speeddevice of simple and compact design andwhich is effective in operation.The device comprises primarily a planetary gear system havingel'ectromagnetically.actuated control means associated therewitheffective to permit of either a direct l to 1 or ratio drive of thedevice upon the engagement or disengagement thereof froni the planetarygear system. The electromagnetically actuated control means isespecially of novel construction permitting of an immediate shiftingthereof for an effective and eloient gear ratio change op# eration uponenergization or vdeenergization o f the electromagneticn actuation asthe case may be.

Referring to the drawings for more specific details of the invention,lil represents generally a change speed power transmitting gearmechanism comprising a gear housing l2, a planetary gear system It, anda change speed control mechanism i6.

The housing l2 includes a pair of cup-shaped members lli and. 2lirespectively suitably secured together at flanged ends 22 and 2lirespectively thereof and having lixedly supported at axially oppositelydisposed ends 26 and 28 thereof hub members St and 32 respectively, thepurpose of which Will hereinafter appear.

The planetary gear system lil is vsupported within housing l2 andincludes a shaft 315 journalled in a bushing 36 fitted in an axialopening 38 provided in hub member 3B, a shaft #it journalled in abushing t2 fitted in an axial opening le in hub member 32 concentric toopening 33 and a planetary gear set comprising a ring gear 116, a sungear 43, and a plurality of pinion gears 50 arranged in meshingengagement between the ring and sun gears.

The ring gear d is xedly held in an annular plate 52 which is fixedlymounted upon one end 54 of shaft 34 whereas sun gear t8 forms a part ofa sleeve member 5t mounted for free rotation and axial movement on shafttl).

The planet pinion gears 5t are mounted for rotation in spacedcircumferential relation upon an annular plate member 58 which is inturn xedly mounted upon an extension of shaft t0, and end 6B adjacentthereto being rotatably supported in a central bore 62 extending throughshaft 34'. An annular plate te is mounted upon shafts 65 supporting thepinion gears 50 disposed on the opposite side of the gears from plate 58and provides one or more radial lugs or ears t8 circumferentially spacedupon the plate t4, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear.

The control mechanism i6 includes an annular electro-magnetic coil l@mounted xedly secured to one end of hub 32, said coil being connected toa suitablev source of electrical current by Way of a current supplyterminal 'i2 insulatedly mounted upon cup-shaped housing member 20 andan armaturering 'M adapted to cooperate with the coil and the magneticcircuit formed thereby.

The ring 'hl is mounted at its inner radial end in fixed relation uponsleeve 56 for movement therewith and provides at its outer circumferencea pair of axially extending equal circumferentially spaced fingers leadapted to cooperate with ear 6B on plate 64 for one extreme axial 3position of sleeve 56 and a plurality of equal annularly spaced detents18 adapted to engage the vertical inner wall of housing member 26 in theother extreme axial position of sleeve 56.

The sleeve 56 and armature ring i4 are normally axially biased away fromcoil 70 by a tension spring 8U arranged axially between the sleeve andinner end of hub 32.

In View of the arrangement of the coil relative to housing member 22 andarmature ring T4 and the provision that the housing be of magneticmaterial, a magnetic circuit is provided about the coil wherein thevertical wall of housing member at the contact points with the detentsi8 of armature ring 'I4 form outer pole faces adapted to attract thearmature ring into contact therewith upon energization of the coil. Thedetents 'I8 further provide an air gap of predetermined width at theinner pole face of the coil It is to be noted that for economy ofconstruction, the housing members I8 and 26, plates 52, 58, and 64, ringgear 46, pinion gears 50, and armature ring i4 are all stamped fromsheet metal stock.

The mechanism lil is so constructed that upon the assembly of thecomponent parts thereof a predetermined amount of prescribed lubricantis placed in the housing so as to provide for ample lubrication for themovement of the parts of the mechanism without the necessity of periodiclubrication thereafter for the satisfactory operation thereof.

In a normal operation of the mechanism IB wherein it is to be used as achange speed power transmitting mechanism for producing a direct driveunder one condition of control and a reduced ratio speed in its otheroperating phase wherein the coil is deenergized, a driving force whichis delivered to shaft 34 from a source, not shown, results in rotatingring gear 46 at the same rate of speed as the shaft. With the coildeenergized, the sleeve 56 is axially biased away from the coilresulting in the locking engagement of armature ring 14 and plate 64through the cooperating engagement of ear 68 and nngers I6 as shown bydotted lines in Fig. 1. The rotation of ring gear 46 which istransmitted to pinion gears 5G causes no relative rotation therebetweenbecause of the locked-up condition of the pinion gears and plate 64through the action of the sun gear 58 and armature ring 74 as a xed partof sleeve 56. Because of this lock up of the ring, pinion, and sungears, the driving force of the ring gear is transmitted directly to theshaft resulting in rotating it at a like speed to the shaft 34 fordelivery to any suitable mechanism adapted to be driven thereby.

When it is desired to cause a speed reduction of mechanism I6, the coilis energized resulting in setting up a magnetic circuit which throughthe pole faces is formed on the vertical wall of housing member 2li. Thearmature is attracted thereto and moved axially against the resistanceof spring Si! effecting disengagement of the ear 68 and fingers 'i6 butat the same time resisting rotation of sun gear 48 through the magneticholding force produced between the pole faces and the detents i8 on thearmature ring. Because of the arrangement of the detents at theoutermost circumference of the ring, a maximum lever arm and effectiveholding means for resisting rotation of the sun gear is provided. It isto be noted that the sun gear remains in engagement with the piniongears 50 for both axial positions of the sleeve 56. With the sun gear inlocked,

non-rotative condition the speed of rotation of shaft 34 is transmittedat a reduced rate through the ring gear and pinion gears, rolling uponstationary sun gear 48, to the shaft 46 for the delivery therefrom. Thespeed reduction obtained is predetermined by the ratio establishedbetween the various gears.

When it is again desired to shift the gearing back to direct drive, itis only necessary that the coil be deenergized whereupon the spring 8Ueffects a quick release of the armature ring from engagement with thepole faces of the magnetic circuit and moves same to engagement withplate 54 as previously described. The armature ring is quicklyresponsive to release from the pole faces upon deenergization of thecoil inasmuch as by controlling the magnetism to the spacedcircumferential points of the detents 'i8 in cooperation with the polefaces of the magnetic circuit the residual magnetism present is aminimum and is overcome in a simple, quick manner.

It is to be recognized that if it might be desirable tc utilize thechange speed device for the purpose of overdrive it is only necessarythat the input and output relationship of the shafts 34 and 46 bereversed wherein the shaft 46 would assume the relationship of inputshaft to the output shaft 34 as compared to the reduced reduction speedratio hereinbefore described.

While this invention has been described in connection with certainspecic embodiments, the principle involved is susceptible of numerousappiications that will readily occur to persons skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. Change speed gearing comprising a housing, a shaft journalled in oneend of the housing, a second shaft journalled in the other end of thehousing, a ring gear xed to the first shaft, a plurality of pinion gearsmounted for rotation on the second shaft, a plate secured upon the axesof the pinion gears having a plurality of radially outwardly extendingears on the outer periphery thereof, a sun gear having meshing andsliding engagement with the pinion gears, an electromagnetic coilmounted in stationary relation in the housing providing a magneticcircuit therewith, an armature flxedly mounted on the sun gear having aplurality of axially extending lingers at the outer periphery thereofextending in the direction of the plate and adapted to cooperate withthe ears thereon, a plurality of circumferentially spaced axiallyextended detents on the face thereof axially disposed from the lingerscooperable in friction surface contacting relation with a :pole face forthe coil, spring means normally biasing the sun gear and armature awayfrom the coil providing interlocking of the ears and ngers of the plateand armature respectively and a source of electrical current for thecoil, said coil effective upon the energization thereof to attract andmove the armature axially so as to disengage the ears and fingers of theplate and armature respectively and simultaneously inhibit rotation ofthe armature.

2. Change speed gearing comprising a housing, a shaft supported forrotation in the housing, a second shaft supported for rotation in thehousing and extending into telescoping supported relation with the othershaft, a ring gear xed upon the first shaft for rotation therewith, a,plurality of pinion gears supported for rotation on the second shaft inmeshing engagement with the ring gear, an annular plate mounted on thepinion gears havingcircumferentially spaced ears extending radiallyoutwardly therefrom, a sleeve mounted for free rotation on and axiallyslidable relative to the second shaft, a sun gear on said sleeve inmeshing engagement with the pinion gears, an electromagnetic coil xedlysecured in the housing section, an armature ring xedly secured on thesleeve axially spaced from the sun gear, s-aid ring, adapted tocooperate with the coil upon the energization thereof, havingcircumferentially spaced fingers on the. outer periphery thereof forcooperative engagement with the ears of the annular plate, sprin'gmeansnormally axially biasing the armature away from the coil providing forengagement of the Vears and fingers, a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced detents axially extended on the ,outer periphery thereof on theopposite side from the fingers for planar surface contacting engagementwith the pole face of the magnetic circuit produced by the coil, springmeans normally biasing the ring away from the coil and a source ofelectrical current for energizing the coil, said coil upon theenergization thereof effective to move the armature axially, also todisengage the ears from the fingers and provide for the contactingengagement of the detents upon the :pole face of the magnetic circuit.

3. Change speed mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a secondrotatable shaft'in aligned telescoped relation thereto, a planetarygearing system coupling the shafts together` comprising a ring gear,pinion gears mounted on a'carrier and a sun gear, said ring Iand sungears being in continuous meshing engagement with the pinion gears, .ahousing supporting the Shafts and gears for rotation therein, anelectromagnetic coil aixedly arranged in the housing in encompassingrelation to one of the shafts and pro-y disposed between the lplanetarygearing system and coil and movable axially therebetween with the sungear, means on the outer periphery of the ring engageable with thepinion gear carrier for locking the pinion and sun gears together andother means on the ring near the outer periphery thereof oppositelydisposed from the rst means adapted to engage the pole face on thehousing at circumferentially spaced points.

4. Change speed mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a secondrotatable shaft, a planetary gearing system coupling the shafts togethercomprising -a ring gear, pinion gears and sun gear, an armature discxedly lsecured to the sun gear and movable axially therewith relative tothe pinion gears, means on the armature disc for locking the sun andpiniongears together, spring means normally biasing the armature towardlocking relation of the sun and pinion gears, an electromagnetic coilnormally axially spaced from the armature providing an annular lpoleface cooperable -with the armature and a source of electrical currentfor the coil, said armature having circumferentially spaced axialprojections thereon engageable in spaced contacting relation along aradial plane extending perpendicular to the axis of the armature discfor spacing the major face portion of the armature a predetermineddistance from the annular pole face upon the energization of the coilattracting the armature toward the coil against the resistance of thespring means effective to disengage the sun and pinion gears from lockedrelation and resist rotation of -the sun gear.

FRED BITZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,802,630 C'otal Apr. 28, 19312,312,263 Ormsby Feb. 23, 1943 2,319,226 Griswold May 18, 1945 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 219,929 Great Britain Mar. 6, 1924

